Highlights from Mt. Pleasant CCL meeting, May 12, 2018

Since meetings on weekends are not convenient for many, we will try week night meetings during the summer.June Meeting: THURSDAY, June 14, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Isabella County Commission on Aging.

International CCL Conference, June 10 – 12 in Washington D.C:

CCL has topped 100,000 supporters; June conference should top last years’ 1300 attendees, including 123 conservatives and 116 students so far for this conference. Marie and Pete Koper and Forest Gehring, a graduating senior from Mt. Pleasant HS., Jim and Jill Crissman from Midland, and a couple from north of Lansing will be constituents meeting with Rep. Moolenaar or his staff. You can increase your member of Congress’s and their staff’s attention to our policy by organizing everyone you know to call their Representative and Senators on Wednesday, June 6th, in support of carbon fee and dividend. To make it easy and to track the number of calls we’re generating, we encourage using the online action tool – cclusa.org/call – that is specifically set up for the June 6th Call-in. It will also provide office numbers and suggested topic.

Parachutes for the Planet. A Mother Earth Project (MEP).

MEP chose parachutes because as safety nets, they are a good metaphor for the process of saving the environment. “[W]hen . . . collectively displayed in large numbers, they transform into powerful messages of strength, hope and communal determination.”

We’re inviting groups and individuals to make “parachutes” (decorated cloth circles, max. 12 ft. diameter) which will be displayed locally and then at national exhibitions in Washington, D.C. But remember to send them to MPCCL so we can display them in Mt. Pleasant first! (Sorry, due to technical difficulties, i.e. lack of knowledge (volunteer?), there is no Registration Form to download.) Please see our Facebook page for more details.

To register, please contact Shelly Smith at 989-572-8491 or gowdysmith@gmail.com.

New Conference Input:

In addition to Constituents Comments to share with our Representatives in DC, we will ask Dr. Julie Doll (Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Long-term Ecological Research Project at the Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University) to write a letter summarizing climate impacts on Michigan agriculture. We will also ask Paul Gross (Isabella County MSU Extension Agent) to share how local farmers have been impacted with problems caused by these changes. Perhaps some farmers will write statements as well.

Upcoming Events:

Farmers Market: starts June 7. We need volunteers to table at Island Park every Thursday. Contact Dawn at 989-506-6022 to let her know which 2 hour slot you prefer.

Chippewa River Festival on July 15: We plan to table and offer Parachutes for the Planet as a youth activity as well. Another volunteer opportunity to make connections with other people!

CCL has prepared a valuable Study Guide (for all volunteers, not just conference attendees) that summarizes important CCL information. You can access it with this link: